#fitmom

It goes without saying that there are a lot of new worries that come with being a new mom.  Not only do you worry about the new tiny human that you are trying to keep alive, but your body just went through the most dramatic change since your first year of life.  

During pregnancy I really tried to stay healthy and fit.  I ran until my 28th week of pregnancy, I went to yoga twice a week religiously, I did spin 2x a week in my 3rd trimester, and I ate relatively healthy (brussel sprouts are really hard to get down while you are "with child" but I managed).  I still gained a ton of weight, 45-50lbs!! I've admitted to my close friends and I guess I'll admit it here, I weighed more than Paul at the end. eek!  Your body does what it is gonna do when you are pregnant...and you just have to roll with it.  

Back to what I said early tho, your body goes through incredible changes while incubating a baby.  My personal experience was gain 45-50lbs in 9 months (not a healthy thing for the average person), lose 30lbs immediately after baby (first 2 weeks), and then have the remaining stubborn 15 to lose while keeping your new bundle of joy alive.  ahh!  Oh and did I mention I couldn't diet (bc of breastfeeding) or workout for the first 6 weeks? so you just have to sit there...with your extra self.  

Personally, my recovery from a c-section was extra long (which was kind of discouraging to me - I thought I would bounce right back for some reason).  For the first 5 weeks I couldn't walk longer than 10 minutes or get up off the couch without wincing.  I didn't actively start exercising until I was in GA and Roswelle was 10wks old.  One day I had to finally tell Paul that I needed help getting back on the exercise train, I was scared.  It was going to hurt and be annoying and be inconvenient and I needed a motivator.  Enter "Coach Paul" - I call him that to be funny but in all seriousness he has been such a great motivator - most of the time working out w/ me for a 2nd time that day.  I would whine and even tear up about how hard it was and how much it hurt, but each time I got through a workout I felt stronger and proud of myself.

I now exercise 5 times a week on average and I am starting to fit comfortably in my pre-baby clothes and I am only a few pounds shy of my pre-baby weight.  Exercising is actually way easier than I thought to fit in with one baby - I must say, I DON'T KNOW HOWWWW moms do it with multiple kids.. but I will worry about that later. 

Here are my workouts from the past week:  

Thursday - BYOB pilates.  These classes are great because you don't have to find a sitter.  You just show up with your non-mobile baby and try to get in a work out.  The class isn't about the baby, it's about you.  You are just allowed to have a noisy baby and no one will blink.  Plus it's a great way to meet other moms!

Friday - quick 2 mile jog w/ Roswelle - sprinting up hills. total time 25 minutes.

Saturday - family WOD (Paul, me, Rob and Jenny while babies were asleep) 50 air squats for warm up, then "10 to 1" rounds of 10 burpees and 10 lunges (each leg - so 20), then 9 burpees and 9 lunges each leg, then 8 burpees and 8 lunges each leg...and so on down to 1.  cashout of 2 sprints to finish.  total time 14 minutes. we were dying at the end.

Sunday - 3 mile jog without baby. blasted rap music and took my time, enjoying being alone. 

Monday - 1.5 mile jog sans baby - broke it up with 8 rounds of 25 squats during the run.  It broke up the monotenous run and I had finished 200 squats by the end. total time 21 minutes.  Came back to Roswelle screaming and Paul sweating it out but it was worth it.  

Tuesday (yesterday) - cleaned the house.  all day.  :)

It's been hard but really rewarding to get back in shape. It's also nice to have a personal challenge that is about me and not about my baby.  

{baby pilates!}

{runnin'}

{a garage WOD in our garage gym}

In other news - my mom is landing in less than 3 hours!!!! She is staying 'til next Thursday. Yayayayayayay.  

The Canteen - our Friday nights

If you want to see Paul, me and Roswelle on a Friday night, I can tell you where we will be, The Canteen (thecanteenptown.com)!  In the past few weeks Canteen has become our Friday night spot - I love having a go-to for Friday nights.  On Friday, Roswelle and I drive to Truro during the day and Paul takes the 5:30pm fast ferry from downtown Boston to Provincetown, landing at the pier around 7:05.  We meet him at the pier and walk over to Canteen for dinner.  I usually order the special - this week it was a fried shrimp sandwich on grilled ciabatta bread.  We always order a hot lobster roll (such a classic) and Paul ordered the Cod Bahn-Mi sandwich.  

Below are some iphone pictures I snapped quickly last Friday night.  I'm already looking forward to it this Friday night.  It's a simple no-muss no-fuss spot with tasty, clean, and mostly healthy food.

{this picture is so summer-y to me - lobster roll, boat shoes and stripes}

{community style fixin's - including water with reusable plastic cups}

{a cute little spot on the walk to the back}

The backyard has additional community style seating...

...with a peaceful view.

Roswelle has started going to sleep around 8pm every night..so this is right during her bedtime - luckily I can swaddle her and stick a paci in her mouth anywhere we are.

{turned into low key family night ever Friday night}

{my fried shrimp sandwich - so simple but soooo good - toasted bread makes anything delish}

After....we walk to Ptown Scoop for ice-cream!

I should mention...Roswelle woke up in the ice-cream shop and officially lost it by the time we got to the car. We stayed out too late and she was letting us know. She cried the entire way home - even tho Paul sat in the back seat trying to console her.  We changed her, re-swaddled her, and she fell fast asleep.  It looks like our nights of her sleeping anywhere at any time are coming to an end - she really likes her night-time routine and likes to be put to bed for the night no later than 8:30 - I guess we will adjust ;) 

btw - I'll be posting a 4month update soon! 

House Update: New Stove and Rug

Good news: We got our new stove and hood!! :) *happy dance*

Bad news: my camera's not working right now so these are all iPhone pictures. :/

Our oven had been acting quirky while baking with it - specifically a gas-like odor filling the kitchen.  We had the gas connection checked so we new it was just an old oven issue.  Paul and I also justified the purchase since we knew we would inevitably have to buy a new one before we put the condo up for sale one day, so we might as well enjoy it for a few years. 

Also - notice what is missing? The microwave!  We got rid of it!!  Paul and I have been avoiding using it for the past couple of months and it was easier than we thought it would be.  1) the hood looks better and 2) natural heat is healthier.  I'm a little nervous about not having a microwave with hungry screaming toddlers but we'll figure that out when we get there.

Out with the old...in with the new and improved! I love the lighting from the hood and the way it hits the backsplash.  It is a Bertazzoni range/oven with an XO hood which has the capability to recirculate the air in the room even if it isn't vented to the outside (which ours isn't since we are sandwiched between other townhouses).

A few things bother me about the picture below but I didn't want to wait to post a picture until after they are fixed (because who knows when they will be done - "winter projects"!) 

1) the backsplash needs to be filled in to the top - the microwave was 16" in height vs the 11" hood

2) the cabinets need to be repainted in general and especially where there is no paint on the side of the cabinets now that the hood is in.  **Future Project alert: I'm planning to repaint all of the cabinets this winter.  It was my first project after we were married and I just wanted to change something in the house asap which meant I didn't do the best job.  The cabinets need better quality paint, a better sand job, and more neutral color...off white? who knows.

3) The fruit bowl isn't full and there are no bananas on the banana hanger for the "after" picture. This bugs me.

{please ignore the fingerprint smudges - going to get some cleaner asap!}

Another change up that happened this week: a new living room rug!  House updates make me more excited than most things...even a new pair of shoes - I swear!  

I had been looking for a rug similar to the two below: 

{Cupcakes and Cashmere living room - so fab}

{West Elm Souk Wool Rug - I loveeed this one}

But instead - I found the one pictured below! I found it at HomeGoods in Framingham - I was soooooo excited to find exactly what I was looking for at a price I could actually afford.  

{this picture shows the true lighting the best - remember these are iphone pics}

  

One final exciting thing - I was gifted this gold flatware set from my girlfriends for my birthday.  It's from the Target Threshold line and is super affordable.  I love that Target continues to seriously step it up in at home department.  I can't wait to use these in some food shots :)

Alright - enough blogging.  I need to get the car packed and the house picked up while little peanut is napping.  We are headed to the cape for the weekend again - TGIF!  oh btw - I guess I should let y'all know I am now officially a stay at home momma! or #happyhomemaker.  It's been great so far and something I've always hoped I would be able to do.  I may get the urge to get some part-time work in a few months but for now my days are filled with feedings, diaper changes, swaddles, tummy time, target runs, and walks with the stroller.  

Roswelle Gray: 3 months old!

It makes me sad that I don't get to blog as much these days...I don't want to only blog about my new baby but it is pretty much what my life consists of now.  We are ordering a new stove this week so that will be a fun house update post coming up.  Roswelle is becoming a little more independent where she will actually play on her activity mat for a good chunk of time so maybe I can do some fun things around the house soon and blog it up.

BUT back to R... she is 3 1/2 months already!  She is getting more and more animated and her eyes keep getting bluer...hopefully they will reach Paul's crystal blue.  

Below are some shots of what we have been up to lately...if you follow me on Instagram some of these will be repeats. (follow us - our handles are @saralaurenl and @paul_lash)

My mom bought us the BoB stroller and we loveeeee it (including R!) She will typically fall asleep in it - even while I run.  It has been a great motivator to get me running again.  It is so light and smooth.  I definitely recommend it for an active stroller.  

{having the best time!}

Walking down Longnook Beach two weekends ago.  Paul's mom bought a 10ft umbrella and 2 kid sized tents for the girls to lay in out of the sun.  Yesterday Roswelle took a 2hr nap on the beach.  

{Paul and I had a date night at a Zac Brown Band concert in Fenway}

{my "Maine-iac" in her Lobstah attire]

{she dipped her toes in the chilly pool and was pretty content}

{baby blues and pink lips}

{all smiles}

{July 4th with her cousin Madelyn who is 8wks younger than Roswelle}

{tub time at the cottage}

Above is my favorite picture to date.  This was at 7am and everyone was happy and calm. 

{I love this picture - her chin is out of control - in the best way}

I hope y'all had a fun and safe 4th of July!  I'll be posting about our new stove when it comes in.  Have a great week!

Flying with a Baby

{2 50lb bags+2 carryons+1 diaper bag+1 stroller+1 carseat+1 baby = omg}

Happy July!!!!  This summer is flying by but is proving to the best one yet.  

Traveling with an 8 week old...is hard work! Timing a grocery store trip with an 8 wk old is hard enough so the task of flying with Roswelle called for a lot of planning, team work, and luck! If Roswelle hadn't been 2 1/2 weeks early, we would have been flying with a 6 wk old because this trip was happening no matter what - yikes!  I can't imagine what traveling with multiple kids is like...seems like mayhem...we'll be there one day.  baby steps. literally ;)

When traveling with a baby you are allowed a stroller, a carseat, and a diaper bag free of charge.  We flew Jet Blue which meant we got one free checked bag each as well. We used uber to get an SUV taxi to the airport...with all of our luggage and our precious cargo...it was necessary.  Plus, her first cab ride was not going to be in a beat up yellow box...no thanks! 

{smooth ride for the happy baby}

We arrived 2 hours early for our flight which meant plenty of time to change her when needed, have a sit down breakfast, and pump! 

{coffee and a sleeping baby - two of my favorite things}

I proudly pumped in the woman's restroom...ya do what ya gotta do.  On my flight back I realized airports have family restrooms...it was perfect for pumping and changing Roswelle since I was traveling alone.

{we were both sleepy - it had been an early morning. Only Roswelle slept tho...I was too excited!

She was 8 wks so she was still sleeping through literally almost anything.

We used this airplane hammock for a little while...it made it nice to be hands free for a few minutes.  Bonus - it also doubles as a highchair when she is older! 

I flew back alone since Paul needed to return a few days before me for work.  I was definitely nervous for it...what if I had to go to the bathroom on the plane? Who would hold her? What if she blew out her diaper on the plane while we were descending and couldn't get up?  Where would I change her diaper on the plane?  There were a lot of things that could have made for an "interesting" trip but luckily all was smooth. 

I fed her a bottle of breastmilk during the take off and landing to make sure she cleared her ears from the change in air pressure.  She slept the majority of the plane ride - babies can't help but be lulled to sleep by the loud white noise.  She did fill her diaper during the landing but it wasn't a blowout...and she didn't freak out about not getting changed quickly.  

{she didn't want to leave}

{strollers are the best!! - can you spot her little hand?}

{I was already wiped out and still waiting to board}

I was able to fly alone with her successfully but it was exhausting.  You are on high alert the entire time.  My advice - fly as a family when possible! 

I'll be writing an update about her soon - can't believe she is over 3 months!  It's just getting better and better.  :)

Our week in Charleston

{Roswelle's first time on the beach!}

The last week of May, Paul and I flew to Charleston for my cousin's wedding.  Ashley was my made of honor and I was her matron of honor - cousins are the best and I'm so blessed to be so close with mine even though we live so far apart.  My mom rented a house on Isle of Palms for the week and we had THE BEST time.  We spent our time hanging with my family on the big screened in porch (with 10+ rocking chairs and a swing), going for walks on the beach (with the stroller), and just plain relaxing.  I got really used to always having someone around to hold Roswelle - it was kind of an adjustment when I got back to Boston!

{Our view and walkway to the beach from the back porch.}  

{impromptu family pic the last morning everyone was there}

{Four generations <3}

{bows and bows}

Roswelle did great on the beach.  I was a smidge psychotic about her being in the sun.  We aren't using sunscreen until next summer so I was sure to limit her time to 10 minutes and kept her covered in her stroller most of the time.  The great thing about the beach is there is almost always a nice breeze to keep her cool.

My mom's main desire that week was to rock Roswelle on the porch swing...they both loved it.

Roswelle got some quality time with her uncles... They are all naturals with her...in their own way. ;)

She also had plenty of quality time with her great-grandparents and her cousin Brinley who is 1 month older than her.  

While Roswelle was spending time with her extended family and me... Paul and Evan were non-stop on the beach.

Paul is a beach maniac.  He found this stump during the week and would lug it around based on the low & high tides to ensure it's safety! We started calling it "stumpy"...similar to Tom Hank's "Wilson" in Cast Away.  He went everywhere with "Stumpy!"

Paul and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary while we were there.  <3

Below are some of my favorite pics of Roswelle from that week.

Next up I'll be blogging on traveling with a baby!  It went surprisingly smooth for us.

Roswelle's Nursery

The nursery was made possible by a lot of different people who loved Roswelle before she was even here.  I had the vision but I had little to do with execution.  Paul and his Dad, Ross, put up the grasscloth wallpaper and chair rail.  Jenny found the restoration hardware crib for me on craigslist. My mom gifted us the rocker.  My super talented girlfriend Sue painted the verses for me  - check out her website below in the details listing.  Paul sanded the dresser and fixed the broken drawers, my mom painted it.  Paul hung everything currently on the walls.  It was equal parts work and love that made this room a peaceful little palace for Roswelle. 

The bedroom will be shared by her younger to-be sibling down the road so I tried to keep the bones of the room neutral.  Pink is the accent color in the room but it goes a long way.  I've included all of the resources and details on almost everything in the room at the end of the post. 

And once again, thank you Mikhail for theses amazing pictures - see his blog here:

http://mikhailglabets.com/blog/

  I am so happy she will have these to look at and see all of the thought and care that went into her nursery.  

Rowelle update: she is still as happy as a clam.  She likes tummy time, looking at our faces and she loves b&w books! She will be 6wks old tomorrow <3

Roswelle sleeps in the moses basket every night.  We took the lining out for safety.  It has been the best since we can easily bring it into the bedroom, living room, kitchen, wherever we are at the time.  And the rocking stand is great; I definitely recommend for a bassinet.  

I love the verse above, and it definitely helps when I am trying to get her to sleep at 2am.  

Details with product links:

Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Acadia White

Grasscloth Wallpaper: American Blinds 

NT33708

Dresser: owned and repainted Benjamin Moore Harbor Grey, pearl finish

Crib: Restoration Hardware- found on craigslist

Rocker:

Pottery Barn Wingback Convertible Rocker

, Natural Flax Belgian Linen

Paintings: by So Sue Me -  

https:\\sue-sardinia.squarespace.com

Bedding:

Serena & Lily Tess Crib Collection

Gold Book Shelf: Ikea

VITTSJO

Wall Shelves: Ikea 

Stenstorp

Area Rug:

Overstock nuLOOM Sisal Rug

Curtains:

Overstock Herringbone Curtains

Ottoman: Owned & covered with a gifted sheepskin

Round Mirror: Ikea

Stockholm Mirror

Lamps: Homegoods

abc pillow:

Etsy: pilosale shop

Pink Sash: personal item from wedding dress

Lace Drape over crib: Personal Wedding Veil

Moses Basket:

Restoration Hardware Trellis Moses Basket

(on sale!)

Roswelle Gray: The first month

Well really the first 5 weeks because I basically blacked out that first week...walking zombie mode.  Having a baby is a crazy thing.  Your body goes through a traumatic experience either natural birth or c-section and then you are thrown into this new state of reality that is exhausting and emotional.  For me, having to recover from surgery while keep a little precious baby alive was a lot!  I literally cried from exhaustion but also cried when the nurse told me they had to take her out of the room to test her hearing.  Luckily Paul was completely level headed through it all and has seen me cry so many times that my crying over my new baby didn't phase him  - he kept reminding me that he had to watch out for me while I was consumed by Roswelle.  I was also lucky enough to have my mom stay with us for 2 1/2 weeks.  she did everything from getting my water (I would somehow forget it every time I nursed), doing endless laundry, grocery shopping, and just being here for moral support (like when I would cry because I wanted Roswelle to be healthy - and she 100% is).

Roswelle and I made it out of the first 10 days alive. I say Roswelle and I because the running joke is that Paul is sleeping more now than before he had a baby, one of us has to be well rested. ;)

Next up was a newborn photo shoot! We had our amazingly talented friend, Mikhail, come over on a Sunday morning for a little camera time in her nursery.  She was 16 days old. We had been getting some good sleep finally and Roswelle was proving herself to be an extremely relaxed calm baby...until that morning.  I was nervous and of course wanted it all to be perfect (the nursery, her outfit, my hair) and Paul was tense (he gets really tense when she cries and we had to remind him to smile!).  Well Miss Roswelle Gray picked up on our "new" moods and it threw her into an unfortunate fit.  She has never cried more than 4 minutes straight in her short little life...except for this morning when she screamed for about 2 hours as we tried to console her while getting our pictures taken.  I even took a 15 minute break to nurse her which luckily calmed her enough to get those great shots of Paul holding her in his hands.  Finally Paul and I gave up and gave her to my mom, once our energy left the room she calmed down and relaxed enough for Mikhail to get some shots of her sweet peanut face.  He got amazing shots of her in spite of the difficult situation...a screaming newborn, a dad that isn't smiling, and a mom with sweat behind her knees! Haha!

I've shared some of my favorite pictures from the shoot and you can see even more over at his website: http://mikhailglabets.com/blog/boston-newborn-family-photographer-2/ And while you are there check out his other work - he is super talented!  You might remember he did a lifestyle shoot of Paul and I making breakfast way back when we were well rested dinks. 

Roswelle is now on a pretty predictable schedule thanks to Babywise and The Happiest Baby on the Block books. I am currently blogging this while drinking my coffee, hooked up to the breastpump and watching her sleep next to me in her moses basket.  Paul has started taking the morning shift so I should give him credit for her sleeping peacefully right now.  

It's been a good morning :) Enjoy the pictures!

The white dress in the picture above was my mom's when she was a baby.  It is paper thin and priceless.  The pale pink dress in the pictures later on was my baby dress.  I have a picture of me in it at 1 month old and will put it up on another day :)

 

I've looked at these a hundred times and can't get enough of them.  I had him take shots of her nursery and will be blogging about all the details next!

  

and here is some proof about what I said above!

Roswelle Gray Lashway: Her Birth Story

Well, Roswelle Gray Lashway is 1 month old so it is about time I write about her arrival before I forget all the little details.  I started writing this a week ago but I just couldn't get it finished.  Time has flown by and I already miss the first few days with her but at the same time I can't wait to start another new day with our daughter. 

Her Arrival:

There is so much to tell.  I've been trying to decide whether to write all the details out or just summarize.  I love going back and reading some of my old posts and I'm sure I will want to read this to her one day so I've decided to list it all out just as it happened.  

Paul had booked us a weekend at a bed&breakfast up in Kennebunkport, Maine as a last weekend away together.  I was 37 1/2 weeks and it was just an hour and a half away from Boston so we figured if anything happened, we would be able to get back in time.  On the Wednesday before our little trip, during my weekly appointment with my midwife, we found out she was in breech position.  We were able to confirm that day via ultrasound which was kind of shocking.  I immediately started researching natural ways to get her to flip...I started doing inverted exercises on the ironing board (check them out at spinningbabies.com), I had an acupuncture treatment on Thursday and even did some moxibustion (where you burn moxa sticks by your pinky toe!). All while praying. On Friday morning, before leaving for Maine, Paul and I met with the ob-gyn to discuss the manual "version" (flipping of the baby by pushing on my stomach) which we had scheduled for the following week.  If none of this worked, we were looking at a c-section.  I really wanted an all natural birth - and was willing to do anything to increase my odds of flipping her!

We left the the doctor's office at noon after signing the consent form for the manual version and headed north for our weekend away! We stopped in Ogunquit, ME for lunch.  It is a cute little town on the coast about an hour north of Boston and we found a great spot on the water called Jackie's Too in Perkins Cove.  We had just finished mussels and clam chowder and were waiting on Paul's lobster roll and my crab sandwich when I felt a 'pop'.  It was down at the base of my pelvis and was an odd enough feeling to make me stop and wonder...and then the rush of water came.  My water broke.  I looked across to Paul and  just said "my water broke"!  He responded, "do you want to go to bathroom?"  He had no idea that water was literally gushing out across from him...all over the floor, a puddle in my chair and soaking my pants.  Literally what you see in the movies (I didn't think that actually happened).  I stood up and walked straight out of the restaurant, I didn't talk to anyone.  Paul wound up paying for our meal (even tho we never got it!) while I was outside standing by the car praying.  He rushed out.  Well, he first asked them to quickly wrap up that lobster roll (he was hungry...!) and then we headed back to Boston.  I called my doctor's office and let them know my water had broken while I had a breech baby and that we would be back to the city in 2 hours with traffic.  The OB immediately got on the phone telling me that I needed to find the closest hospital to us and to not come back to Boston.  If Roswelle started to come down the birth canal it could be very dangerous for her and me.  This really upset me, not only was I definitely having a c-section, it would be at a random hospital!  I was on the verge of getting REALLY upset (the tears were already there but it was more of a whimper than a breakdown).  Paul stayed very calm considering the situation.  Once he heard the urgency of the OB's voice telling us to find a hospital he started looking up hospitals on his phone, while driving, with his wife in labor next to him - bad idea.  He looked up from his phone and a blue "H" hospital road sign was there.  How often do you notice those?  And the chances of it being there exactly when we needed it - almost jumping out at Paul - we don't consider this a coincidence but what we often refer to as a "God thing".  It was just too perfect.  We were being looked after.  We turned left, following the signs and realized we were in a little town called York, Maine.  We were headed to York Hospital.  

I called the hospital as we were pulling in and was greeted on the phone by a sweet lady's voice.  In a panic I asked her if they had a labor and delivery unit which she informed me they did and I then informed her that we were pulling up to the main entrance.  I was placed in a wheelchair and whisked up to the 2nd floor (the top floor).  The hospital is super small and sweet with only 79 rooms in the entire hospital!  The OB walked across the street from his office to check us out.  Roswelle and I were both doing fine and I hadn't dilated at all at that point.  I had two options - get in an ambulance and be taken back to Boston to have the baby or just have the c-section there in about an hour.  Paul and I decided we were going to be having our baby that afternoon in York, Maine.  We were going to have a little Maine-iac. :)   My water broke at 2:30pm and she was out by 4:50pm!  I was 37wks & 4days.  She was 7lbs 2oz, 19 1/4 inches long, and was absolutely perfect.

After they checked her out, they let me do skin-to-skin with her on the operating table.  This was really important to me and I was so happy they basically did everything I asked.  Paul reminded me that it was hard to find a hippier place than Cambridge, MA (which is where she was supposed to be born) but I managed to find one in York.  She wound up latching in the post-op room.  The post-op experience was actually really nice.  It was calm and quiet with just the 3 of us in the room while we were periodically checked on by a nurse. We only had a few visitors, which is what I wanted. Rob, Jenny, and Paul's parents were patiently waiting to meet Roswelle once we got back to our room.  My mom's flight landed at 10:30pm and she was holding Roswelle by midnight that night.

Everything worked out just as it should have.  My prayers had been answered.  God had been with Roswelle and me through the entire process.

Random Roswelle Facts:

Roswelle was Paul's paternal great-grandfather's name and Gray was my maternal great-aunt's name. We decided to choose a name from each of our family trees.  I heard the name Roswelle over the summer while we were talking about family names with Paul's parents and grandmother.  I instantly fell in love with it for a girl's name.  Paul took a little convincing but eventually he warmed up to it and now he can't imagine her being named anything else. 

Her nicknames right now are #peanut #sniffer (an inside joke) #peanutsniffer and #squishypeanut.  She is a very very calm baby.  She only fusses when she is hungry or tired, which only lasts for about 4 minutes before her needs are met (first baby probs).  The longest she has cried was during her newborn shoot when she was 2 weeks old.  I was nervous and Paul was annoyed - and she picked right up on it.  I'll be blogging that next!  

Pictures from THAT morning - started out just like any other day!

 Paul took this 10 minutes before my water broke!

Below are some personal pictures from the first few days with her.

{in love, in shock, and in awe}

{her feet are clones of Paul's}

{2 days old}

{getting ready to go home}

{her NB sized dress was still a little big on her mini-peanut size}

{leaving York Hospital - I already miss it!}

{snug as a bug for the ride home - she slept the entire 1 1/2 hour drive!}

{she loves it when Paul sings to her...usually a country tune}

{her outfit for her first stoller outing}

{it took us about 20 minutes to get out the door}

{we made it 3 blocks and turned around}

{and she was held on the walk back ;)}

next up is a post on her finished nursery and a post from her 2wk old newborn shoot which I previewed on instagram!  be back soon!

House Update: The Bathroom

Our bathroom got a facelift last month.  

A gallon of paint (Benj Moore Woodlawn Blue) + new curtain rod/curtain + mirror = new and improved.

Where we started:

One of the smallest changes with the biggest impact was raising the shower curtain rod.  All the curtains in our house are hung as close to the ceiling as possible - no matter how high the windows are.  It draws your eye up and creates the illusion of a taller, larger room.  I ordered a curved rod from online (the same ones that are in basically every hampton inn these days) and it definitely gives the feeling of more space when you are actually in the shower.  

Next up was finding a shower curtain that would actually be long enough from the ceiling to the floor now that I had raised everything a by at least a foot.  It's not really my thing to go to the fabric store and have one made so instead I looked at the possibility of using real curtains as a shower curtain.  

I found grommet style curtains at tjmaxx which were too short (pictured above).  However, once I realized I could use these style curtains easily with the shower curtain liner & rod, all I had to do was look online for 95" grommet curtains (product link) - found them online at bed, bath & beyond for $40 bucks (this length is not sold in stores).  BB&B is always doing 20% coupons and free shipping deals which helped the budget as well.  I ordered a linen fabric in ivory, the bathroom is so small I decided not to overwhelm the space with a pattern.  

{I was able to hang the liner in between the grommet hooks - seen above}

{I had to order two panels to fit the width and my grandmother was able to stitch them together for me during her visit in February}

{We bought this driftwood mirror on sale from pottery barn 2 years ago with gift cards...and now it finally has a home!}

Entryway Update!

Our entryway is finished! 

well...almost.  Like everything else there are always little things we need to touch up...aka paint the trim, fix the doorbell, etc (this weekend perhaps?).

BUT the big projects are officially out of the way.  Paul really stepped it up the past month so I can't help but give him all the credit. Over the past 2 months we tore up the old tile, had hardwood installed throughout the lower level and laid new tile down in the entryway landing. You can see just a little bit of the hardwood that leads down a hallway and into the guest bedroom...which we have been unofficially calling my mom's room these days since she will be staying with us for 3-4wks after sweet pea's arrival.  

Below is a picture of what was there before - this is in front of our fireplace (hopefully changing one day as well).  I unfortunately didn't get a before picture of our entryway.....ahhhhh.  But it was a dark emerald green 12x12 tile that I never liked.  It made the bottom floor feel dark and cold - which is the exact opposite of what I want in our home with the winters we face up here.

We picked a porcelain tile with a slate look.  The name is Cerim New England Slate and we ordered from Tyles by Perfection in Quincy.  They were super helpful and had a ton of selections.

{above is my favorite one}

Like I said, Paul really stepped it up.  When we pulled up the old tile the concrete below was a crumbling mess.  He laid down new cement (a few weeks prior), a self leveling compound during the week, a thin-set layer on Friday night, and then finally he and his dad cut and placed the tile on Saturday.  Paul finished it all with the grout on Sunday.  We still may coat it with a sealer.  He researched a ton and it really paid off. I couldn't be a happier wife! 

We tried a bunch of different layouts pictured below and placed our favorite tiles in the most visible spots...  We didn't get too creative - trying avoid too much cutting and possible mess-ups on his first attempt

{ta-da}

on a personal note....it's been a long sh*!!y week.  End of pregnancy is no joke...especially the first time around.  Some days I feel great but some days are ended with a teary-eyed tub soak. I try to stay positive but every now and then things get the best of me and I crumble. Work has been busy, the weather has been crap (19 degrees this morning and snowed yesterday), and the T was a mess this AM making my commute almost an hour...just to end this week on a low note.  March in Boston is literally my least favorite thing EVER.  Only thing getting me through is spending my Saturdays washing baby clothes and getting ready for her arrival :)  I'm really looking forward to a weekend of yoga, eating healthy, and relaxing with Paulliee! anywho...TGIFFFFFFFFFFF. ha!  

Brunch: Craigie on Main

I haven't blogged about food in a while!  We have been so focused on house projects that we haven't really been out to eat anywhere new in the past couple of months.  Well that is changing this month.  I am fully committed to enjoying our last month as DINKs by eating out at amazing restaurants, seeing moves, taking naps, & lots of yoga/exercising to balance everything out.  I reached out to a few of my foodie friends and had them tell me the 'must-go-to' restaurants in the area.  Once I had the list, I set up multiple reservations on opentable throughout the month (see my list at the end).  Craigie on Main in Cambridge was one of them.  It's a great restaurant all around but it is well-known for their Sunday Brunch...specifically their grassfed burger & house-made donuts.  We had both!   

{the infamous house-made donut with confiture du lait}

{grass-fed beef cheek & smoked beef tongue hash}

{grilled cheese & chicken confit sandwich - with house-made celery slaw, pickles & housemade nutmeg ketchup - i think?}

{I also loved the decor - they had gold mirrors throughout the restaurant - I want/need that little heart mirror}

{open style kitchens are the best}

The rest of our list: (cambridge is the place to eat these days)

West Bridge - Cambridge, MA - loved it, so cool.

T.W. Food - Cambridge, MA - going.

Hungry Mother - Cambridge, MA - going Friday!

Craigie on Main - Cambridge, MA - loved.

Bronwyn - Somerville, MA - going next week!

Island Creek Oysters - Boston, MA - reservation made

Hamersley's Bistro - Boston, MA - went, great food, not my fav atmosphere.

There are sooo many more good restaurants in Boston - but the criteria for our list was that we hadn't been there before (or at least one of us).  Let me know if you have any more must tries! 

A Lashway Baby Brunch

{cutest party favors from kristenskandybuffets.com; the theme was bow&arrow}

Last weekend Jenny and I had a dual baby brunch shower. Did y'all know? She and Rob are expecting a baby 7 weeks after Paul and me! :) ...so we decided to throw each other a baby shower. She threw it for me, I threw it for her...and our friend Mel threw in the party favors and donuts! It was actually a ton of fun planning our own shower (esp since the both of us like control)...we made the crafts, planned the seating and selected items for the menu...so we were really happy with the outcome naturally.

We decided to separate our showers between family and girlfriends.  Paul & Rob's mom, Sandy, threw Jenny and I a beautiful shower in February for family.  Jenny and I really wanted to host a brunch with our closest girlfriends in the city - only around 20 of us total.  

Mel ordered the party favors and donuts (from Union Square Donuts) which really added to the festive feel.  Since, Jenny isn't finding out the sex (which is torturing Paul) the colors were a mix bright pink, blue and teal.

{small plastic pacifiers, spray painted gold, to sprinkle on the table}

Only disappointing thing about the room we reserved @ Sonsie on Newbury, was that it was in the wine room of the restaurant...in the basement...which meant no natural lighting.  I tried my best to get good pictures but my wheelhouse for picture taking is of still objects with natural light.  And I can't stand taking pictures with a flash.  oh well....#whattayagonnadooo

{we had seen these place cards on few blogs and they were actually really easy to make}

{festive coffee & donuts corner - there was also a mimosa bar not pictured}

To save the budget, I went to Trader Joe's the Friday night before and threw together the flower arrangements.

{35 weeks & 28 weeks}

{more preggos...38weeks, 35weeks, and 28weeks}

A few of the girls went in together to give the moses basket....I'm obsessed...so much so that I pranced around with it when I got home (that is...after I IMMEDIATELY switched into a t-shirt and sweats...basically all clothing is MIZ when 8 months pregnant)

{sweet books from Tara L}

{and I'll leave you with this...an accidental picture but I like it!} 

Dresser Re-do

I mentioned in my last post that my Mom would be staying for an entire week to help me with the nursery/house.  We did other things as well including going to spin classes together, dinner at Sweet Green (my fav), she was able to meet my midwife, and also attend the bible study that Paul and I go to every week.  I'm always telling her what I'm up to ...but it was nice for her to actually get to experience some of it with me.

She also got a lot done around the house...including painting the dresser that will serve as the changing table.  Paul bought it 10 years ago from Jordan's Furniture (a local furniture store) when he moved into the townhouse...and it is actually a great piece of furniture so I am glad we were able to repurpose it. 

I had a lot of cream and white going on in the room, so I decided to paint it a soft gray. It goes well with the crib skirt and kind of cools off the room a little bit.

{before - and if you remember I also repainted that mirror seen here}

{during - Paul spent countless hours making sure it was well-prepped}

{We used Benjamin Moore Harbor Gray in a Pearl finish}

{$1.37 brass-like knobs from home depot}

{my mom also washed all the baby clothes, blankets, sheets, etc}

{a repurposed gift box from Target}

One of the last things to go up in the nursery is the mirror above the dresser.  My mom found one from Pottery Barn outlet in Dawsonville, GA which looks very similar to the one pictured below (from insideavenue.com).  It was too big to bring up with her on her flight so it is being shipped.

Other updates:

Paint: Paul has become a painting PRO! he has literally repainted 85% of our house on his own.  And it looks SO GOOD.  I have to go back and paint the baseboards a fresh coat of white but that is easy enough for me.  I'll post some before and after pictures.  He seriously amazed me with how much he got painted this past week - and my mom was a witness!

Entryway tile: We ordered the tile and it is set to arrive next Thursday which hopefully means it will be going down next weekend.

Light Fixtures: They have ALL been replaced!  I'll do a recap/before&after post on all of them.  I'm so glad to have that behind us! 

We have little things here and there left to do but we are pretty much ready for her arrival!  The work was hard and definitely created tense moments in our house but it was all worth it and we are so proud of what we were able to finish since January. 

Keep on keepin' on....

Project are in process...

Paul and I have been working nonstop on the house - our deadline is quickly approaching!  Below are some pictures of current projects/updates that have been happening in the Lashway household.  

Paul spent a good 10 hours total sanding the dresser (he's had for years) and fixing the drawer tracks.  It is ready to be painted.  The plan is to find a subtle creamy/gray - probably going to pull a color from the grasscloth wallpaper.  I actually like the way it looks sanded - but doesn't work for the nursery.

We got the Nest!  Paul is in love.  I'm getting used to it.  It thinks it knows me and schedules itself which makes me angry sometimes when it sets itself to 62 while it is below 20 outside.  But we are getting used to each other. :) I do love the fact that we can change the temp while laying in bed and have it warm up before we get home! We were able to get a rebate with our purchase and the nest should heat/cool more efficiently and save us money in the end.

Paul is becoming a spray painting pro.  I'm going through a golllllllldddddd phase this year but instead of making any big gold purchases for the house...I'm instead spray painting a bunch of little things in the house that I didn't love before, but I love now that they are gold.  Below is a little table to go by the rocker in the nursery.  

We had the basement floors replaced with hardwood but are keeping tile in the little entry space we have.  With New England winters it just wouldn't make sense to put hardwood there.  BUT with all projects, there was a little bit of a delay, we ripped up the tile and found that the concrete had disintegrated near the door.  Paul tore up the adhesive/old concrete and replaced concrete with a new stronger patch.  Once this cures - he will be laying down new tile.  

{becoming quite the handyman}

We have these white spackle spots ALL over our house....

Sunday night we painted this section...Monday night we painted the basement hallway...little by little, wall by wall, this house will be completely repainted.  Plan is to be done by March 2nd!

Sidenote -->  Paul and I are big on "squatting" in our house whenever we can (as seen above).  Painting, folding laundry, watching tv.  It's a position that should be natural to us but because we have become a culture that sits insteads of squats...it has become really difficult for most people to hold for over a minute.  I also haven't talked much about my pregnancy/birth plan on the blog...but I am really, really hoping for an all natural birth.  I've been preparing as much as I can with yoga, exercise and practicing my squat.  Your pelvis is open 30% more in the squat position....I'll just leave it at that.  :)  If you are interested in learning more about a squat challenge that you can do at home click here: https://www.facebook.com/portal.ido?filter=3

Projects that have been completed: Both bathrooms have been repainted/redecorated.  Guest bedroom completely redone.  2 light fixtures are left to be delivered and then all light fixtures in the house will have been replaced! Posts on all that fun stuff coming up.  

My Mom, Mammie, Carson and his friend Jeff are arriving tomorrow for the weekend!!  We are excited to have a house full of family :)  My mom is actually staying through next Saturday to help me with the house/nursery/anything and everything in between.  Very excited to have them here!

The Rocker

{Nursery Work's Empire Rocker - #fail}

The rocker.  My mom told me months ago that she wanted to give us our rocker for a Christmas/baby gift combined.  She loved rocking all of us and I think has a special place in her heart for time with babies in the wee-morning hours.  She knows how tough it can be and that a great rocker makes a difference.  

I started looking for the perfect rocker and was sure I had found it in the Nursery Work's Empire Rocker.  It is beautiful.  Tufted, wingback, legs show...perfect!...until it arrived.  omgah. most uncomfortable seat ever!! :(  I read a few reviews that said it wasn't very comfortable, but I kept seeing it all over blogs and kept thinking to myself if 'everyone' has it in their nurseries, then it can't be THAT bad??  ugh.so wrong.  Sat straight up in it and incredibly hard to get in and out of.  Poor Paul spent half of his day picking it up and putting it together only for me to cry and send it back. I guess you could say that I'm considering this a PSA for all future rocker purchasers. 

Jenny was ordering the Wingback Rocker from Pottery Barn, it is definitely a beautiful rocker and it severely exceeds the comfort level of the Empire Rocker!  It actually feels like a rocker should; deep seat, comfy cushions and a nice recline.  I ordered it in the Belgian Linen Natural Flax because it was the fabric that would ship in 1-3wks as opposed to 8-10wks with the other fabric choices.  It surprisingly arrived in just over a week from ordering and it works perfectly in the nursery! Although I think we were unusually lucky - PB customer service is the PITS. 

So thankful everything worked out.  And a special thanks to my mom for being so flexible and generous!  

{Pottery Barn Wingback Rocker - #winnerwinner!}

An ottoman is definitely necessary with a rocker and to work with our budget, I pulled the ottoman from the living room and covered with a sheep skin.  I love it!  I painted the ottoman over a year ago - it was a hand-me-down from Paul's parents.  It definitely does the job for now - and is a quick, cheap addition to the nursery. 

Much happier momma in the pic above than below...

And bonus! - the delivery men left us with the chair pegs for free ($60 online).  We'll be able to convert the rocker to a chair in a few years.

Progress Report: Nursery!

First off - it's really hard for me to blog about the nursery today since it's not DONE.  There are so many things that I want to say..."a painting is going here" "this isn't staying like this" "the needs to be hung" etc... but I'm gonna go ahead and show the progress we made in just 1 month! I started ordering/researching items at the beginning of January, we had the room painted 2 wkds ago and the wallpaper was hung this past weekend!

There are so many people that helped with the nursery...Jenny found the crib on craigslist (she is such a deal finder! amazing), my mom gifted the rocker, and my father-in-law Ross spent 12 hours on Saturday hanging wallpaper and trim for his little granddaughter! Paul and I couldn't have made this room come together without everyone's help - many many thanks!

**alsooooo.  I know, I know, I KNOW some elements of this nursery are not realistic when she is a toddler.  I get it.  Just let me live in my dream-like, ignorant, kid-less state for now.  :) 

The grasscloth wallpaper was an inexpensive project (albeit labor intesive) that made a huge impact on the room. I found the wallpaper on americanblinds.com (exact product link), ordered samples, and then made the decision.  We bought the trim at home depot and cut to size.  In total it was a $150 project that was worth every penny.  The ceilings/walls are so tall that the furniture was almost floating in a big space of cream paint before the grounding border went up.

{before}

{after}

{before}

{after}

Some other nursery details....

Two PBkids chandeliers my mom found at the outlets years ago for my wedding reception...seen below: 

The ceilings are too tall and room is too large for these small chandeliers but I knew I wanted use them....at first I deconstructed an Ikea standing lamp and hung from there...so I could just plug into the wall. Then Paul actually had the grand idea of just removing the cord from the lamp and hanging from a hook in the little nook we created...genius! and so obvious? couldn't believe I didn't think of it!

Paul and I have become 'electricians' in the past month...I use that term loosely...BUT we have hung countless light fixtures...and I have 'spliced' (is that the right term?) or connected outlet cords to a chandelier fixtures.  There was a little scare - I was sitting on the couch attaching the cords, plugged it in, turned it on, and POW an explosion right in my lap...I was fine but scared and the pillows might have a few burn marks on them.  I learned my lesson tho! back awayyyy when testing your electrical work.  Once you connect a chandelier to an outlet cord, the possibilities of where it can go are endless! And don't worry, we used plastic connectors, electrical tape and then covered in white duct tape - it's safe. 

{where they hang now}

Another cheap, cheap project is spray painting this Ikea shelf gold.  $40 shelf unit + $3can of spray paint. done. 

Since our baby is going to be a girl (at least that is what we are expecting), I am able to use my wedding veil and pink sash in the nursery.  

The wedding veil is being hung over the crib and the sash is draped along the curtain rod.  So happy to be able to reuse these precious pieces! 

and....to show you there is still a lot left to do...here is the other corner of the room.  The dresser is down in the garage getting prepped for paint.  Mirror is on it's way and paintings are in the works...

I'll be updating again soon - the plan is to have everything done by Sunday March 2nd!

also - I will list out where everything is from in the end, but most things are from wayfair, overstock, ikea, homegoods and craigslist. 

Wall Gallery

{sand dollars are ones that Paul and I found on our beach bike ride on on Jekyll Island two days after our wedding}

One of the things I find hardest to do in a home is create an appealing, well-balanced, interesting wall gallery.  I attempted one before in our guest room and after a week I was sick of it.  The trick is for the frames and items to go together, but in an unexpected way, which is what I find the hardest.  

I've attempted another gallery in our bedroom above my mirrored dresser (a find from homegoods).  I don't know how I managed to get my own wall in our shared master bedroom....I guess I just didn't even ask ;) every girl needs her "space" and since we currently share a sink, this is my space for all my pretty, favorite things. 

I currently have pictures of my girlfriends up (from MA and GA!)...but I hate to tell you girls...I have a feeling in 10 weeks you will be replaced with pictures a new precious little girl.  eek!

{I like the mix of gold, silver, black, white, etc that is going on}

{my very talented and creative friend Sue gave all of her girlfriends a plate with a quote that reminded her of them for Christmas.  Very personal, very crafty, and means so much!}

{These jewelry holders were a gift from my mother-in-law and should be polished - but I almost like the tarnished look better? either that or I'm lazy}

{a night time view - always amazes me how different things look from day to night}

We'll see how long this one lasts before I change it. :)

House Update: Master Bedroom Painted

We've had some rooms painted! 

Today I'm just going to quickly show you our bedroom.  Very slight change in color but big impact, I think at least.  Since the beginning of this month we have painted both bathrooms, the guest bedroom in the basement, and most recently we had the nursery and our room painted (both rooms have extremely tall ceilings so we couldn't do ourselves).

It's a very similar color...which made sense to me since I have already decorated our room to go with a neutral gray tone.  But the new color has a little more cream in it than the blue/gray before.  It's Benjamin Moore Titanium.

Can you see the difference below? I can!! Also...we didn't have any extra paint of the original colors...but now we can hang things, change our minds, spackle, and repaint! It's sooo liberating!

{Left: test spot; Right: finished!}

I tested out the color in a few different spots in the room.  One of the first test spots was right by my night stand.  The color change was the first thing I saw when I woke up and I wanted to know what my immediate raw feeling would be in the morning when I saw it.  

The color was originally chosen to possibly be the color for the majority of the house (which is the process of being repainted...room by room).  You can see the two of the samples on the mantel and then I threw them up on the bedroom wall - I'm so much happier with it as our bedroom color!  The left color is Benjamin Moore Wedgewood Gray.

You can see a big difference in the colors in the picture above.  Also, a picture below to show the contrast it has with the basic white trim.  Btw - repainting trim, baseboards, and doors is one of my new favorite things...while it's a painful and annoying process...it makes a HUGE impact on my perception of a room.

A few other things that will be blogged about soon.....nursery (crib is up and curtains have been hung!); the guest bedroom (you can see the new color for the rest of our house...it's called Tyler Gray by Benjamin Moore); our bathroom, and a photo gallery/collage (they are so hard for me!?!)...anywho, lots coming your way!

Old color is on the right and new color is on the left in the bedroom.  I love it for main color of our house - I told paul I would drink it if I could ;) It's Benjamin Moore Tyler Gray.

House Update: Light Fixtures

So we got some light fixtures up this past weekend! I've never really picked out light fixtures before....I never had a budget for it...or a reason to buy any since I have always rented until now.... IT'S SO HARD and can get really expensive!

I'm quickly learning what I like and don't like and also more importantly what works and what doesn't work. I'm learning to pay close attention to dimensions, reviews, and hanging features (ie rod vs chain vs straight up wire).

One that worked out really really well and was right on budget is the light fixture for our living room.  I'm so so happy with it. I actually LOATHE overhead lighting - it is rarely on at our house - so the fact that this fixture is on a dimmer and only has three light bulbs works for me.  It gives off just the right amount of low light and looks pretty switched on or off.  

{it took Paul and his dad about 3 man hours to hang it up and assemble the beads - thanks again!}

Below is a little day vs night for you....

**also throughout these pictures you will notice spackle spots all over the walls.  We are in the middle of painting the entire house - updates coming! so please show our walls some grace for now**

And a little surprise - a free light fixture! and it just happens to be gorgeous. :) Over the summer my mom drove up to Boston and brought with her the chandelier from our wedding reception.  It was found in the back of an abandoned storage unit!  My brother's girlfriend's family were the ones who found it and they gave it to us as our wedding gift! It's absolutely perfect.  I'm so so so grateful.  

{at our wedding reception - we also have the small chandeliers which will be used in the nursery}

another day vs night shot for you...

I'm soo soo happy with how it looks in our bedroom.  Our ceilings are tall enough to handle the largeness of it.  I'm so excited to use it in every house we own going forward.

So I spoke earlier of learning to pay attention to details...including hanging features.  This fixture was supposed to be swagged over the kitchen table...but because it has a rod instead of a chain, it was going to be way too difficult.  We decided to hang it in our entrance stairway...and again, please ignore the walls....that will be fixed in no time.

Where it was supposed to hang....

If you notice....I only have a lamp back there for lighting...and it's just enough light for me...(we have recessed lighting in the kitchen when necessary).  SO I decided I only needed a single bulb pendant - which really helped my budget.  I found this one below on overstock (Corsica 1 light pendant). I think it will be a good fit...it won't overpower the corner, will provide plenty of light, and will look pretty with a good edison light bulb.  It is set to arrive this Friday...so we'll seeeeeee.

While it's been really difficult and sometimes disappointing....for instance buying a non-returnable fixture you hate (did that) or realizing the one you love is way over budget or sold out (yep).  It's been really exciting and rewarding too.  If you are in the process of updating your light fixtures, happy hunting!